Serbian Leader Accuses Kosovo of ‘Wanting War’ After Train Is Turned Back

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The train, adorned with the words “Kosovo is Serbian” in 20 languages, in Belgrade, Serbia, on Saturday.CreditDarko Vojinovic/Associated Press

By The Associated Press

Jan. 15, 2017

BELGRADE, Serbia — A Serbian train bearing signs reading “Kosovo is Serbian” has been halted at the border with Kosovo, fueling a crisis in the Balkans and escalating a potential contest between Russia and the West over dominance in the region.

Serbia accused Kosovo’s leaders on Sunday of “wanting war” and warned that it would defend “every inch” of its territory, a day after the train, decorated in Serbian Christian Orthodox symbols and flags, was prevented from entering the neighboring nation.

Kosovo, supported by much of the West, declared independence from Serbia in 2008. But Serbia and its Slavic Orthodox ally, Russia, do not recognize the split.

Serbia has sought to maintain influence in Kosovo’s north, where most of the country’s Serbian minority lives. Troops led by NATO have controlled Kosovo’s borders since a three-month air war in 1999 to stop a bloody Serbian crackdown against ethnic Albanian separatists.

President Tomislav Nikolic of Serbia issued the latest warning after the passenger train, painted in the colors of the red, blue and white Serbian flag, was prevented from crossing into Kosovo, where Mr. Nikolic government contends that ethnic Serbs are under threat from Kosovo Albanians.

“Yesterday, we were on the verge of clashes,” Mr. Nikolic said after a meeting of the country’s top security body following the train’s overnight return to Belgrade. “We are a country which has to protect its people and its territory.”

Serbia is seeking European Union membership but has lately been sliding toward the Kremlin, which wants to increase its influence in the Balkans. Serbia has strained relations with most of its neighbors, a situation that many analysts attribute to Russian influence.

Prime Minister Isa Mustafa of Kosovo said he had contacted the United States and the European Union to express his country’s concerns.

“The time of provocation, conflicts and wars should belong to the past,” Mr. Mustafa said, adding that such moves were “unacceptable, unnecessary actions that do not contribute to the normalization of the relations between our two countries.”

Mr. Nikolic, who is staunchly pro-Russian, said the European Union and the West had never been on Serbia’s side or come to its aid.

“Why were the so-called international community and the Albanians so upset about one train?” Mr. Nikolic asked. “Maybe because it had ‘Kosovo is Serbian’ written on it, and because it had pictures of our icons inside.”

He also called for Serbia to halt its European Union membership negotiations in Brussels, including a central part that calls for normalizing relations between Serbia and Kosovo.

“My suggestion now is only to talk in Brussels when this train is allowed to pass,” he said. “If there is no freedom of movement, what kind of Western civilization are we talking about then?”

Mr. Nikolic also criticized the departing Obama administration and the United States’ support for Kosovo’s independence — comments that reflected the general feeling here that President-elect Donald J. Trump will be more favorable toward Russia and Serbia.

Tensions between Serbia and Kosovo have soared since the detention in France this month of Ramush Haradinaj, a former Kosovo prime minister, on an arrest warrant from Serbia.

Kosovo has called the warrant illegitimate and urged France to ignore it, while Serbia is seeking Mr. Haradinaj’s quick extradition to face charges of war crimes.

A version of this article appears in print on , on Page A3 of the New York edition with the headline: Serbia and Kosovo Clash Over Halted Border Train. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe